After Arsene Wenger said yesterday that Aaron Ramsey had an outside chance of making the Aston Villa game on Monday, the Arsenal manager has revealed today that the Welsh Jesus won’t be making the trip to Villa Park.
With lots of midfield options there’s no need to rush him back and his rehabilitation from the calf injury will continue. Thomas Vermaelen is definitely out, however, leaving the manager with just two fit centre-halves. Kieran Gibbs still has an outside chance of featuring, but Wenger is likely to stick with Nacho Monreal.
Olivier Giroud comes back into the squad after missing the 2-0 win over Sp*rs, and the manager also says that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is ready for first team action despite just returning to training.
“I wouldn’t have any hesitation on playing him against Aston Villa,” he said.
Release the OX!
Time for the ox to nail down his starting place for the World Cup. By nailing it down with arsenal. Some goals from now on would do just that. Excited to see him develop now that he’s back.
Has to be a good sign that he’s back in the first team so quick! From what we hear played well in u-21 game! So so so so so excited to see him back, I’ve missed his play out there. He hasn’t played with Özil yet so who knows how well they might play with each other. Really really really just pumped for the game now, even if it’s off the bench I’d love to see him. For those going to the game, give him a warm welcome from cold Minnesota for me!
He’s my mancrush….
I think Serge deserves to retain his place though. He’s played amazingly well v. Spurs, and I can’t see any reason to kill his confidence at this point. The Ox can come in later on; I have to say that with 4 or 5 players like the one we have I feel really reassured about that area of the pitch
I just hope that Serge is not the type of player that ‘would have his confidence killed’ if he will not feature in one match, regardless of how good his last performance was. That is not what a team sport is about.
just when you think you have it all figured out.
Say hallo to Jack wilshere on the RW.
What does the Ox say?
I demand this be his chant. Make it happen.
Small point, but how good is it to have such options at left back? It’s an area of the pitch that doesn’t get the same attention as others perhaps, but Nacho and Gibbs is a sweet combination, pushing each other with the right level of competition.
Personally, I’m completely happy for either to play. Perhaps Nacho shades it with his experience, but Gibbs perhaps has a slight better understanding with his teammates?
Alex can be the fabled Ox in the box!
This comment deserves more attention!!! Would sounds great in the commentary if Ox scores.
GOOD TO SEE HIM BACK IN THE SQUAD
Let’s take a revenge for the homegame! Ox back! Show us some magic moments, Ox 🙂
who’s our CB on the bench if TV5 is out?
Jenks. If we need a CB, Sagna goes into the centre and Jenks plays as RB, so in essence, Sagna
I reckon we’ll see something like this:
Szczeny
Sagna; Mertescielny; Monreal
Arteta; Wilshere
Ozil; Cazorla; Podolski
Giroud
Bench: Fab, Gibbs, Jenko, Flamini, Rosicky, The Ox, Gnabry
If Giroud isn’t ready to start then I imagine Rosicky or Gnabry would come in for him and Poldi will go up top. Either way we’ll still have a strong, well-balanced XI out there.
The concern? The lack of a striker or a centre-back on the bench…hmmm.
I think another concern is that we would be playing with 10 men with that line up. Not that we won’t smash em, but I rather play with eleven.
check again.
Don’t think he understood the Mertescielny concept.
We need another CB.
I’m liking the Ox in the Box. “What does the Ox say?” Is good too but we need to elaborate on that. What WOULD the Ox say? I don’t want our fans to be making stupid noises at the stadium like they do in the music video.
On the contrary, a chorus of “Fra-ka-ka-ka-ka-kow” would be quite fun and echo quite brilliantly around the Emirates.
“What does the Ox say?”??
Please, please, please don’t make this a chant, if only for the sake of my sanity.
My nephew has tortured me with that fucking song!
I hope Giroud comes back and starts his goal streak